Meet The Woman Behind The Suicide Prevention Guide For Black Women In Toxic Workplaces

Dr. Heliana Ramirez, a researcher of racial and LGBTQ related workplace trauma, created the Black Women Toxic Job Survivor Suicide Prevention Resource Guide following the tragic death of Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey following workplace bullying.

Ramirez spoke with POCIT about Candia-Bailey’s life and legacy, creating the guide, and strategies for Black women experiencing workplace bullying.

Remembering Dr. Candia-Bailey

Candia-Bailey experienced severe workplace abuse from her supervisor when she worked as Vice President of Student Affairs at Lincoln University Oakland, leading to her suicide in January 2024.

Concerned about Candia-Bailey’s anxiety and depression, her doctor signed a request for Family Medical Leave (FMLA). However this was denied by her supervisor.

Candia-Bailey also sought help from the University Council, but they refused to intervene, and she was fired.

After being in what Ramirez’s work described as a classic mobbing situation where a hostile group uses organizational power against a bullied target, Candia-Bailey died by “Bullycide”.

Ramirez learned of Candia-Bailey’s story from news reports and was deeply moved, as she had also experienced workplace bullying and being forced out of a role.

In honor of Candia-Bailey, Ramirez created the guide to give women resources if they too find themselves in similar situations.

“In the US, Black women ages 18 to 65 have the highest rate of suicide among all groups of women,” Ramirez told POCIT. “But I was not seeing the concrete skills building and resource sharing that actually helps Black women in a moment of suicidal crisis.”

The Black Women Toxic Job Survivor Suicide Prevention Resource Guide

Bullying in the workplace for people of color is common as reports found that Black and minority group women in particular experience additional levels of exclusion, with the majority (72%) facing racism at work.

A third of Black women in the tech sector also claimed to have been assumed by colleagues not to hold a technical role.

Other reports found that Latina and Black women tend to feel less psychological safety at work—such as fearing being penalized for mistakes and facing microaggressions.

“The resource guide not only provides suicide prevention in terms of how to tolerate and how to live through the crisis moment, but how to get out of these toxic jobs and create a better life for oneself,” Ramirez told POCIT.

The guide includes a number of helpful tools including resources to find a new job or start a business, mental health care and professional coaching by and for Black women. It also includes resources to sue or negotiate severance pay for racist employers and a toxic job liberation song list.

“I do not ask Black women if they have been bullied in the workplace, I ask Black women how many times they have been bullied in the workplace.”

“We are learning about rhythm and different tones and beats that are at the interactions of neuroscience and the music industry,” said Ramirez. “Our ancestors always knew this, and that’s why music and dance has always been a part of our cultural ways of managing stress and metabolizing it.”

What to do if you’re being bullied at work 

Ramirez told POCIT that workplace bullying can be any number of offenses and inappropriate behavior, some of which include being prevented from doing one’s job or having resources necessary to complete a job removed.

It can also include people being excluded and facing microaggressions and insults or injuries to one’s professional development.

“I do not ask Black women if they have been bullied in the workplace, I ask Black women how many times they have been bullied in the workplace,” Ramirez told POCIT, highlighting how common the issue is.

1 – Document

“If you are experiencing workplace bullying, the first thing to do is document,” Ramirez advised when asked what should a Black woman do if faced with bullies.

“Every single thing. Document the negative interactions with people but also document the positive interactions.”

Ramirez stressed that this is crucial if you want to go to HR for support, you must have documentation and also be aware of the specific law that was broken.

2 – Toxic Go Bag

A toxic go bag is an additional tool Ramirez recommends. 

“Emergency go bags are more commonly thought of in situations of domestic violence or also like fleeing natural disasters. But the toxic go bag from a toxic workplace is going to have different contents,” said Ramirez.

This toxic go bag for the workplace will include the employee handbook, the position and description of their current role, their documentations of all interactions in a timeline and employee review.

3 – Lean into your relationships

“Finally, having contacts of colleagues or clients who you have good relations with, take those with you as well because it’s not uncommon that once a report is made to a supervisor or to HR about workplace abuse, that somebody could suddenly lose access to their email,” Ramirez warned.

You Are Not The Problem

Ramirez highlighted the pervasive issue of workplace bullying, particularly among Black women, and urged them not to internalize blame for the abuse they endure. 

“Often the targets of workplace bullying are competent, ethical and well-liked employees,” said Ramirez.

“It turns out the people who tend to bully are imposter leaders. These are people who are promoted without necessary subject matter, expertise, experience training and they find great threat by being around the target. 

“I hope that brilliant Black people who are targeted by workplace abuse survive and get out of abusive workplaces and are able to find healthier ones, or create businesses of their own.”

Ramirez emphasized that Black women should recognize that bullying stems from the insecurities of the bullies, not from any fault of their own. By externalizing the blame, Black women can begin to heal and recognize their worth beyond the harmful actions of workplace bullies.

“I hope that brilliant Black people who are targeted by workplace abuse survive and get out of abusive workplaces and are able to find healthier ones, or create businesses of their own,” Ramirez stated when asked about the guide’s ultimate goal.

Rameriz also hopes that suicide prevention interventionists can take an anti-racist and Black centering approach to thinking about suicide prevention.